PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Frontino Melfighi (ranked 4509 p4p, 4252 weight class) and Sebastien Morissette (ranked 0 p4p, 180 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Melfighi
vs
Morissette

171 cm
24
142
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
144
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Frontino Melfighi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sebastien Morissette!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Patrick Alders and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melfighi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Melfighi misses with a few strikes there.

Morissette shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Morissette sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Melfighi defending well though.
Morissette takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Melfighi wants to get back to his feet.
Morissette looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Melfighi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Morissette.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melfighi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Morissette thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Melfighi looks like he's trying to stand up.
Melfighi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Melfighi tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melfighi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Morissette scores with a couple of nice shots.
Melfighi looks like he's trying to stand up.
Melfighi tries to kick Morissette off in order to stand up. Morissette Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Morissette in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The referee asks Morissette politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Morissette prefers to stall for the moment though.
Morissette landing strikes.
You can see the frustration on Melfighi's face as Morissette controls the position.
Morissette working the body and head with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morissette in side control, throwing shots but Melfighi defends.
The ground and pound from Morissette seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Melfighi is working to avoid the ground and pound but Morissette connects with a decent elbow.
Melfighi managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Morissette.
Morissette tries to score with some ground and pound. Melfighi controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melfighi is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Morissette scores with a couple of short elbows.
Melfighi tries to escape but Morissette is in control.
Morissette cracks Melfighi with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Morissette is staying tight to Melfighi's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Morissette is looking to take a break and control but Melfighi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Morissette has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morissette misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Melfighi is trying to buck Morissette off.
Morissette content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Melfighi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Morissette on the ground.
Morissette lands an elbow.
Morissette connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Melfighi some visible discomfort.
Melfighi is trying to get back to his feet.
Morissette trying to control the position but Melfighi is working away.
Morissette tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melfighi takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Morissette is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Melfighi's shoulder. That is not cool.
Morissette cracks Melfighi with a big elbow.
Morissette postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Morissette controlling the position from side mount.
Melfighi is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Melfighi parries the strikes from Morissette easily there. Morissette is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Melfighi to escape.
Melfighi takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sebastien Morissette dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Melfighi slaps away a takedown attempt from Morissette, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Morissette takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Frontino Melfighi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Melfighi scores with a body shot.
Melfighi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Morissette.
Melfighi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Melfighi throws a head kick but Morissette moves out of range.
Morissette drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Melfighi defends it well.
Melfighi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Melfighi throws a shot to the body.
Morissette dives in and grabs Melfighi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Melfighi pushes down on Morissette's head and hops out.
Frontino Melfighi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sebastien Morissette.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melfighi lands with a thumping leg kick.
Morissette swats away the attempt to clinch by Melfighi.
Melfighi lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Sebastien Morissette has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melfighi throws a sloppy head kick and Morissette moves out of range easily.
Morissette feints the counter takedown.
Melfighi cracks a nice hook into Morissette's ribs.
Melfighi fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Morissette has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Melfighi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Morissette swats away the attempt to clinch by Melfighi.
Melfighi thows a body kick. Morissette tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Morissette tries to keep at a distance but Melfighi has taken the fight into the clinch.

Melfighi breaks the clinch.
Melfighi works over Morissette's head and body with a nice combination.
Melfighi bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Melfighi.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melfighi throws a leg kick which misses Morissette's front leg but catches the back leg as Morissette tries to avoid it.
Frontino Melfighi is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Melfighi scores with a leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Morissette avoids a punch combination nicely.
Melfighi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Melfighi lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Melfighi.

Morissette feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Melfighi wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Morissette manages to pass to side control.

Morissette is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Morissette lands strikes from half guard.
Morissette missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Melfighi pushes Morissette off looking to stand but Morissette dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morissette sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Morissette scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Morissette trying to control the pace.
Morissette working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Melfighi is staying active underneath Morissette, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Melfighi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Morissette slips a nice elbow through Melfighi's hands, connecting with Melfighi's forehead.
Morissette is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morissette looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Morissette trying to control from half guard but Melfighi is working away.
Morissette wants to pass to mount but Melfighi is defending the position.
Morissette seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Melfighi tries to kick Morissette off but Morissette keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Morissette is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Well, if Morissette is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Morissette prevents Melfighi from standing back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frontino Melfighi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sebastien Morissette's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sloppy strikes from Melfighi. Those never looked like landing.
Melfighi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Melfighi throws a head kick that half lands.
Morissette takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Melfighi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Morissette decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Morissette missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Morissette working Melfighi over with strikes.
Morissette thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Morissette lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Melfighi is trying to escape back to his feet but Morissette uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Morissette takes a little break here. Melfighi wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melfighi takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Morissette scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Melfighi to see if he's OK.
Morissette wants to lay and pray for a moment but Melfighi keeps working.
Morissette throws an elbow but Melfighi slips to the side and avoids it well.
Melfighi wants to get back to his feet but Morissette is dominant here and he's now got Melfighi's back!
Morissette is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Morissette lands punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morissette punishes Melfighi with strikes from the back mount.
Morissette connects with a big shot to the side of Melfighi's head.
Morissette cracks Melfighi with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Melfighi from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Morissette is landing with strikes. Melfighi can't take much more of this.
Morissette lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Morissette.
Morissette is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Melfighi. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Morissette connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Melfighi to escape the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
What can Melfighi do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Morissette has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Melfighi.
Morissette lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Morissette is landing with strikes from the back.
Morissette gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Morissette lands with a hammerfist to the side of Melfighi's head.
Morissette is working the ground and pound. Can Melfighi escape?
Melfighi trying to get back to his feet but Morissette is in full control for now.
Melfighi is taking damage to the body and head.
Melfighi grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Morissette scores with strikes from the back.
Morissette is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Melfighi. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Sebastien Morissette has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Melfighi takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Morissette lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Well, with Morissette on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Melfighi is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Melfighi covers up after that shot from Morissette.
Melfighi is trying to stand back up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Morissette really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Melfighi.
Sebastien Morissette is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Morissette is working the ground and pound. Can Melfighi escape?
What can Melfighi do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Frontino Melfighi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Morissette looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sebastien Morissette comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Morissette has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Sebastien Morissette!
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight for Sebastien Morissette!
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight for Sebastien Morissette!

Sebastien Morissette wins by unanimous decision!
During a confident post fight interview, Sebastien Morissette thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.